Handtools

ABSTRACT

A metallic hammerhead is provided with a socket, and a nonmetallic hammer handle has an end portion adapted to be drive fitted into the socket. The socket is provided with a coating of epoxy bonding material on about two-thirds of the circumference of its inner wall, and the end portion of the handle is provided with longitudinally extending grooves. One of the grooves is aligned with the uncoated part of the socket wall during driving to allow air ahead of the handle to escape.

United States att Inventor Harry B. Stump Ashtabula, Ohio Appl. No. 794,050 Filed Jan. 27, 1969 Patented Aug. 31, 1971 Assignee True Temper Corporation Cleveland, Ohio HANDTOOLS 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 145/29, 306/32 Int. Cl 1325c l/00, 825g 3/34, 325d 1/00 Field of Search 145/29, 36;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,989,101 6/1961 Carmien 145/36 3,502,359 3/1970 Lucci 287/127 R Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordon Assistant ExaminerBoscoe V. Parker, Jr. Attorney-1H. Slough ABSTRACT: A metallic hammerhead is provided with a socket, and a nonmetallic hammer handle has an end portion adapted'to be drive fitted into the socket. The socket is provided with a coating of epoxy bonding material on about twothirds of the circumference of its inner wall, and the end portion of the handle is provided with longitudinally extending grooves. One of the grooves is aligned with the uncoated part of the socket wall during driving to allow air ahead of the handle to escape.

ATENTED M831 1971 SHEET 2 BF 2 Fig. 7

' INVENTOR. Harry 5. Siam 0 BY [7 u. H- jLOUGH ATTORNEY ll-IANDTOOLS This invention relates to hand tools and relates more particularly to striking implements such as hammers and the like. The invention is specifically directed to a handtool having a metallic head or work-engaging portion and a nonmetallic handle and means for connecting said handle to the head. However, the invention may be applied to handtools of other materials.

In general, the present invention comprises a toolhead having a socket therein and a handle adapted to be drive fitted into the socket. The end portion of the handle which is adapted to interfit the socket is provided with groove means on the periphery of said end portion whereby air pressure within the socket is relieved during the driving operation. Prior to inserting the end portion into the socket, said socket is provided with a coating of bonding compound which is deposited on the inner surface of the socket and extends around the socket less than the full circumference thereof whereby said groove means remains open.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved means and method for securing a handle to the head of a handtool such as a striking implement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handtool and method of manufacture wherein the handle is both drive fitted into the socket of the head and securely bonded thereto.

Still another object is to provide means for connecting the head and handle of a handtool wherein the handle can be firmly seated within a closed end socket without building up resistive pressures therein.

Yet another object is to provide a handle-and-head connection means for a handtool as set forth above wherein the bonding compound flows freely around the end portion of the handle during the driving thereof into a closed end socket in the head.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a handtool head-and-handle construction as set forth above and method for making the same wherein the head of the tool is metal and the handle thereof is of a nonmetallic material.

Other objects of the invention and a number of the advantages thereof will be apparent from the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings, in which said drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a hammer embodying the present invention, a portion of the head thereof being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a still further enlarged transverse section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the hammerhead and socket-engaging end portion of the handle, said head being shown partially in section;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the hammerhead, shown partially in section, said head being inverted for inserting the end portion of the handle into the socket; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the end portion of the handle entering the socket.

Referring now to the drawings in all of which like parts are designated by like reference numerals, the present invention is illustrated as applied to-a hammer having a head or striking member 12 and a handle 14. The hammer herein illustrated is the type commonly referred to as a claw hammer wherein the head has the usual poll 16 at one end and claws 18 at the opposite end thereof. An intermediate portion 20 of the head 12 is provided with a closed end, handle-receiving socket 22 which receives a connecting end portion 24 of the hammer handle 14. A ferrule 26 encompasses the handle 14 adjacent to an open end or mouth 28 of the socket 22. The lower portion of the handle 14 is provided with a sleevelike, resilient handgrip member 30 telescoped thereover.

As herein illustrated, the hammer has a metallic head and a nonmetallic handle, said handle preferably comprising a fiberglass-reinforced plastic. The connecting end portion 24 is of such size as to afford an extremely tight, press or drive fit within the socket. In construction of the hammer, the ferrule 26 is first telescoped over the end portion 24 and then press fitted to the handle at a preferably slightly tapered portion 32 thereof. 1

In assembling a tool handle to a head having a closed end socket it has been found to be desirable to provide for a pressuretight contact between the handle and the socket and to additionally provide a thin film of a suitable adhesive bonding material such as an epoxy resin between the interfitting handle and socket surfaces. In this type of assembly, certain problems arise. In driving the handle, air is trapped within the socket ahead of the handle thereby presenting a resistive force reacting against the driving force. When the bonding compound in a liquid state is placed within the socket, this resistive force causes the bonding material, such as epoxy, to leak or squirt out of the socket around the handle and if there is a sufficient quantity of the bonding compound, it actually resists insertion of the handle. Thus the tight pressure fit which is desired is not fully attained, bonding compound is lost, and an extra wiping operation is necessary to wipe away the leaking compound.

In the present invention, the connecting end portion 24 of the handle 14 is provided at its outer peripheral surface with groove means which allow air to escape from ahead of the driving handle. In the form herein shown, the end portion 24 is provided with two grooves 34 disposed parallel with the longitudinal dimension of the handle and positioned away from the claw or striking face and spaced from each other. Prior to inserting the handle into the socket 22, the inner surface of such socket is provided with a coating of the bonding compound such as epoxy, indicated at 36 which extends approximately two-thirds of the way around the circumference of the eye or socket with the uncoated portion being disposed at one side of the head 12 to avoid filling at least one of thegrooves 34 when the handle is driven.

FIG. 5 shows the manner in which the bonding compound 36 extends only part way around the socket thereby leaving one of the grooves 34 free of said compound. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the normal position of the head 12 during assembly of the hammer wherein said head is inverted and the handle 14 is driven downwardly into the eye or socket 22. During the driving of the handle, the bonding compound 36 is squeezed to a thin film between the engaging surfaces of the handle and socket with some of the compound entering the groove 34 on one side of the socket and the excess, if any, draining into the bottom of the socket as illustrated in FIG. 2. At the same time, pressure is prevented from building up ahead of the driving handle by the bonding-free groove 34 on the opposite side of the socket through which trapped air can freely escape. The grooves 34 preferably extend to or a little beyond the upper edge of the ferrule 26 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 whereby the trapped air can escape throughout the entire driving movement. When cured or hardened, the thin film of adhesive locks the press fit between handle and head in place.

With the above construction and method of assembly, it has been found that leaking or squirting of the liquid bonding compound can be entirely eliminated and that a pressure fit between the hammerhead and handle can be fully attained.

. What I claim is:

1. A handtool comprising a head having a closed end socket therein; a handle having an end portion tightly drive fitted into said socket; said end portion having outer surface portions in pressure engagement with surface portions of said socket; at least one of said surface portions having a substantially adhesive-free groove means therein disposed parallel with the longitudinal axial dimension of the handle and extending substantially the longitudinal dimension of said socket affording means for air to escape from ahead of said handle during driving thereof; and a thin film of adhesive bonding material disposed between the major portion of said pressure-engaged surface portions of said end portion and socket.

2. A handtool as set forth in claim 1: said groove means being provided in said outer surface portions of said end portion of said handle. v

3. A handtool as set forth in claim 2: said groove means comprising at least two elongated grooves in the outer peripheral surface of said end portion of said handle; said grooves being disposed parallel with the longitudinal axis of said end portion and spaced substantially 180 apart; at least one of said grooves being unobstructed by said adhesive bonding material.

4. A handtool as set forth in claim 3: said head having a work-engaging portion disposed laterally of the axis of said handle; said grooves being disposed on' either side of said handle substantially'90 from said work-engaging portion.

5. A handtool as set forth in claim 1: said head being made of metal, said handle comprising fiberglass reinforced plastic; and said bonding material comprising an epoxy resin.

6. A striking implement comprising a head having a closed end socket of circular cross section therein; a nonmetallic handle having an end portion of circular cross section tightly drive fitted into said socket; said head having a striking portion directed laterally of the axis of said socket; the outer surface of said end portion having adhesive-free groove means therein disposed parallel to the axis of said socket affording a continuous air passage along said end portion substantially equal to the depth of said socket and affording means for air to escape from ahead of said end portion during driving thereof; and a thin film of adhesive bonding material disposed between the major portion of pressure-engaged surface portions of said end portion and socket to lock the drive fit of said handle in place.

7. A striking implement as set forth in claim 6: said head being made of metal and said handle being made of fiberglassreinforced plastic; said head having a striking portion directed laterally of the axis of said handle; said groove means comprising an elongated groove disposed parallel with the axis of said end portion; said adhesive bonding material comprising an epoxy resin disposed circumferentially on either side of said groove.

8. A striking implement as set forth in claim 7: said groove being disposed substantially from said striking portion. 

1. A handtool comprising a head having a closed end socket therein; a handle having an end portion tightly drive fitted into said socket; said end portion having outer surface portions in pressure engagement with surface portions of said socket; at least one of said surface portions having a substantially adhesive-free groove means therein disposed parallel with the longitudinal axial dimension of the handle and extending substantially the longitudinal dimension of said socket affording means for air to escape from ahead of said handle during driving thereof; and a thin film of adhesive bonding material disposed between the major portion of said pressure-engaged surface portions of said end portion and socket.
 2. A handtool as set forth in claim 1: said groove means being provided in said outer surface portions of said end portion of said handle.
 3. A handtool as set forth in claim 2: said groove means comprising at least two elongated grooves in the outer peripheral surface of said end portion of said handle; said grooves being disposed parallel with the longitudinal axis of said end portion and spaced substantially 180* apart; at least one of said grooves being unobstructed by said adhesive bonding material.
 4. A handtool as set forth in claim 3: said head having a work-engaging portion disposed laterally of the axis of said handle; said grooves being disposed on either side of said handle substantially 90* from said work-engaging portion.
 5. A handtool as set forth in claim 1: said head being made of metal, said handle comprising fiberglass reinforced plastic; and said bonding material comprising an epoxy resin.
 6. A striking implement comprising a head having a closed end socket of circular cross section therein; a nonmetallic handle having an end portion of circular cross section tightly drive fitted into said socket; said head having a striking portion directed laterally of the axis of said socket; the outer surface of said end portion having adhesive-free groove means therein disposed parallel to the axis of said socket affording a continuous air passage along said end portion substantially equal to the depth of said socket and affording means for air to escape from ahead of said end portion during driving thereof; and a thin film of adhesive bonding material disposed between the major portion of pressure-engaged surface portions of said end portion and socket to lock the drive fit of said handle in place.
 7. A striking implement as set forth in claim 6: said head being made of metal and said handle being made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic; said head having a striking portion directed laterally of the axis of said handle; said groove means comprising an elongated groove disposed parallel with the axis of said end portion; said adhesive bonding material comprising an epoxy resin disposed circumferentially on either side of said groove.
 8. A striking implement as set forth in claim 7: said groove being disposed substantially 90* from said striking portion. 